Amy

New for A Monster Calls: Hexagonal Thinking Analysis Activities

March 12, 2024 by Amy Leave a Comment

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Last month at book club, when the teens and I were digging into A Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds as we moved around hexagons, I was reminded of just how helpful these slips of paper are to kids. Having manipulatives, these concrete objects that they hold and move, helps them to put into words the abstract relationships they see between people and places and ideas within the story. Are you new to hexagonal thinking? Read this post to learn more!

So when we read Patrick Ness’ A Monster Calls this month, with it’s wealth of symbolism and grief and truth, I knew it was time to create a set of hexagons for this story, too.

New from A Nest in the Rocks: Hexagonal Thinking Analysis Activities for *A Monster Calls* by Patrick Ness.

When I do this, I include the names of all the characters who make any significant contribution to the story. I include the places I think are most important, as well as the symbols, themes, and major ideas of the story.

I can’t leave out the quotations, either. Sometimes there are just those lines, you know the ones, the kind that perfectly sum up the meaning of a scene, and they beg to be included.

That’s what happened with A Monster Calls. There’s just so much to this story that I had to add extra hexagons, so there are more than usual. Sometimes I worry that maybe there will be too many, that having more hexagons will make it easier to find the connections between them … but then we want our kids to be able to name and describe these connections, and if there’s more to the story, how can I choose to leave those out?

I do include extra, blank hexagons, though, should you decide that something stands out to you that didn’t to me. You could also take away hexagons if you want your students to focus on just themes, or not places, or more heavily on quotations.

That’s a big part of what makes hexagonal thinking activities so wonderful to me. They can be customized in myriads of ways to scaffold your students of any ability.

So I hope that this set of activities for A Monster Calls is beneficial to your students. Dig deep and learn all that the monster has to share with you.

Have you tried hexagonal thinking activities with your students? I’d love to know about your experience in the comments!

New! A Noble Scheme from Roseanna M. White – Review

March 10, 2024 by Amy Leave a Comment

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Roseanna M. White has long been a master of historical fiction, but she’s reached a new level with A Noble Scheme. The emotional drama of this story will rival any Karen Kingsbury book and had me highlighting line after line as I pondered both her prose and her meaning.

Read my full review of Roseanna M. White’s next Imposters novel, *A Noble Scheme*, here!

In the beginning, though, while I was excited to dive into a new adventure with the Imposters, Ltd., I really wanted to find out what the big secret was between Gemma and Graham. White kept the mystery around this sky-high as the story unfolded and still I couldn’t quite pinpoint it! I love when authors keep me guessing!

And I never would have guessed it. I wouldn’t have suspected that White would sink so low as to put this pair through this kind of torment, but she does so absolutely perfectly. The descriptions, emotions, and drama – as well as the lessons journeyed and learned – couldn’t be better.

Readers who enjoy both depth and drama need A Noble Scheme on their bookshelf. This book – this series, really – is one to keep. Just be sure you have the tissues handy.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

New! Riot by Ronie Kendig & JJ Samie Myles- Review

February 28, 2024 by Amy Leave a Comment

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Riot packs a powerful punch in every way! Not only does the MWD Riot grab your emotions, but the story will cause a riot with your emotions as you go on this grief-stricken journey towards healing with Paisley and Danger.

*Riot* is an exciting addition to the A Breed Apart series written by Ronie Kendig and JJ Samie Myles. Read on for my full review.

The beginning of this book was hard to read! Danger and Paisley were each in mourning for different things, which was still so strong and new and real that they weren’t ready to look beyond it. All the usual sparks and fun tension took on new depths, so when the bad guys came calling, the stakes were super high!

I loved that. I felt like I had to be on Danger and Paisley’s side even though I didn’t know their full stories yet – but I wanted to. Those stories dribbled out as the story progressed, never fast enough to satisfy my curiosity but always keeping the pages turning fast. Actually, I think Paisley needs her own origin story – so I’d love it if you could get right on that. I need to know more.

Paisley’s drive to right a wrong at any cost and Danger’s need to protect his family makes this a must-read story. The constant action and right-versus-wrong superhero feel of Riot elevates it to one that deserves a place on your bookshelf.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

New! Using Hexagonal Thinking Activities for Long Way Down

February 27, 2024 by Amy Leave a Comment

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Have you read Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds? It’s a powerful novel in verse about the causes, consequences, and mindset connected to street violence – and the whole story takes place in 60 seconds!

Read on to find out how I used hexagonal thinking activities with my book club students when we read Jason Reynolds’ *Long Way Down.*

I’ve been hearing teachers rave about it for a few years, but I had my doubts about it at first. Was it another one of those books that work for public school classrooms but is too harsh, too violent … something that my rural, homeschooled kids couldn’t relate to?

Then I read it.

It is harsh. It is violent – it needs to be, because street violence is just that, and it’s hard, because the lifestyle and culture that surrounds this issue is hard; but that doesn’t mean that only inner-city kids should read it. And the violence is primarily off the page, never happening in real time, so you’re experiencing it differently than the characters do themselves.

Instead, I found it a fantastic story for prompting deep discussion – so much so that I decided to use it with my teen book club. We were able to talk about the mindset of these communities. Of what it must be like, feel like, to live there. To grow up watching friend after friend and relative after relative die. To have it ingrained in you to duck, to hide, to wait, when you hear gunshots, and then to look around to see who survived.

The police chief of our town, the sheriff of our county, a lieutenant/SWAT leader, and a pastor/youth program director came to meet with us. We held an open forum and invited the community, where each of the above leaders introduced themselves and then talked about their experience with the issues in Long Way Down. It was sobering to realize just how prevalent it is here – it’s not just an inner-city problem. After that, we asked questions and talked about these issues peacefully and openly.

When the community members had left, and my book clubbers had shared their reflections about our community discussion, I broke out the hexagons. It had been a while since we did one of these, and after reviewing the basics, the kids quickly dove in, grabbing hexagons, sharing what they meant to them personally, and then talking about how they thought they fit – or didn’t – as they tried to fit them together. They pieced them one way, had several straggling pieces with few connections, and so I challenged them to try to make tighter relationships with those.

After they did that, they swirled the hexagons and started over – this time purposely choosing the hexagon that they felt named the most important thing to this story. They built hexagonal connections around this one, discussing story elements as they did so, and it was fun to see just how engaged they were throughout this activity!

I love seeing my book clubbers dig deeply into something, especially these hard, emotional topics. That’s why I want to make this resource available to you. I’ve put together all of the hexagons that we used, in two sizes, plus blanks so you can add your own, and more hexagonal thinking activities for you in one product. This can be used before reading, after reading, for cooperative learning like book clubs or small discussion groups, or even for assessment.

Click on this image to get all the details about my new resource Hexagonal Thinking Activities for Jason Reynolds’ *Long Way Down*.

Hexagonal thinking is great because it helps to make abstract concepts more concrete. For students who struggle with putting themes and emotions into words, these hexagons solidify the structures and help to scaffold them towards deeper analysis.

If you’re using Long Way Down with your students, give this a try! It’s an excellent book for this type of analysis.

Have you used Long Way Down with students? What was their reaction?

New! Trapped in Yosemite by Dana Mentink – Review

February 20, 2024 by Amy Leave a Comment

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Wow! Trapped in Yosemite gutted me in the best kind of way. It’s been a long time since I really cried while reading a book, but this one did me in – and it’s a suspense story!

Dana Mentink’s new book *Trapped in Yosemite* has all sorts of action and tension – you don’t want to miss it! Read on for my full review.

Mentink keeps the tension high throughout the whole book – not just the suspense, either, but romantic tension and worries about main character Stella and her daughter’s well-being. There’s a lot happening in these pages, and Mentink handles it all with ease. The natural disasters keep the danger levels high even without the killer, who keeps turning up like a bad penny. When you factor in the trauma that Stella and Von are still dealing with, you’ll be crying, too.

Part of the reason that Trapped in Yosemite got to me so much is because that trauma includes lost babies. That’s hard, and it isn’t something you just bounce back from. Mentink handled it all really well, but if that’s something that’s too much for you, this might be a book to shelve for now.

Otherwise, get your copy of Trapped in Yosemite and stock up on tissues and chocolate. You won’t be putting this one down – though you might need a hug by the end.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

New from Jessica R. Patch: The Garden Girls – Review

February 16, 2024 by Amy Leave a Comment

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Wow! Jessica R. Patch has penned a twisted tale of love and revenge that will keep your heart pounding and you guessing from the first page to the last! You won’t be able to put The Garden Girls down!

Patch is not someone I want to meet in a dark alleyway – but I’m there for all of her books! Her characterization and plot twists are phenomenal. The Garden Girls defies description: it’s part mystery, part romance, part psychological thriller, but no matter how you choose to classify it, you’ll definitely label it ‘outstanding.’

Read on for my full review of Jessica R. Patch’s next book *The Garden Girls*.

My favorite way to read is to clear a block of time and settle in with a fun snack, but that’s not optional with The Garden Girls, because you won’t be putting it down until you turn the last page – just make sure you start well before dark, or this story might invade your dreams.

The Garden Girls is perfect for book club discussions – I want to talk over all of these plot twists with my friends! I bet you’ll find yourself pondering Tyberius long after you’ve turned the last page. Maybe you’ll be like me and will hope that Patch writes a few more books in this series – because I’m definitely not ready to let them go.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

NEW! One Last Shot by Susan May Warren – Review

February 15, 2024 by Amy Leave a Comment

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One Last Shot kicks off with a bang and only gets more intense throughout the story! Warren has more than proved that she has the writing chops to take on any hero – or heroine – and she fully does so in this action-packed story.

Read on for my full review of Susan May Warren’s new book *One Last Shot,* the first in her Alaska Air One Rescue series!

Yet as they take a breath – they don’t get much more than that! – between each action sequence, Warren’s signature wisdom characterizes every page. Oaken and Boo are not just muscled people in capes, riding in to save the day and taking off again; they grow real right before your eyes, with deep hurts, hard problems, and fears for the future. The lessons they need to learn, all penned in Warren’s signature style, will resonate with each reader because they’re grounded in scripture and real life both. I’m just happy that we can learn these lessons along with Oaken without having to jump out of any helicopters!

One Last Shot is the perfect way to kick off the new Alaska Air One Rescue series. It connects loosely to previous characters and stories but brings to the forefront new heroes. It’s full of high-octane action and loveable characters who will keep you entertained all while quietly speaking to your soul. If you’re a fan of the romantic suspense or high adventure genre at all, then pre-order your copy today. This one needs to be in your collection.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. All opinions are my own.

New! The British Booksellers by Kristy Cambron – Review

February 5, 2024 by Amy Leave a Comment

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Wow! Kristy Cambron really penned a zinger of a story in The British Booksellers! This novel has the makings of a classic: unrequited love, mysteries flowing through every chapter, and enough suspense to keep you on the edge of your seat.

Read on for my full review of *The British Booksellers* by Kristy Cambron – out on April 9, 2024.

I really didn’t want to put this one down, and I read the whole thing in a day. I simply couldn’t wait to find out what would happen to Amos and Charlie! They were characters you just have to love – though nobody in this story is quite whom they seem to be.

And that’s part of the fun of it. There isn’t just one big mystery – there’s that plus lots of little ones that Cambron trickles out as you read, just at the perfect pace to keep you longing for answers.

Cambron’s writing skills are masterful: lyrical and quotable and full of wisdom, I found myself highlighting much throughout the story – and I’m not typically one to mark up a book.

Give it a read, though, and I think you’ll see why. Whether it’s to answer the questions about what all is real – because The British Booksellers is based on real events – or because you need all the answers now, or merely because the writing is that beautiful, you won’t be able to put this book down, either.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Who wants to win a gift card?

February 3, 2024 by Amy Leave a Comment

How is it already February – with Valentine’s Day staring us down? Where has so much of the school year gone – but how do we keep our students engaged through the monotonous days of winter – and the even harder days of spring?

As much as I love the continuity that this time of year provides my students, boredom can easily set in, too – and that’s why I love that the TpT Winter Sale is happening next week! You can save up to 25% with the code FEBSALE24 – and my entire store will be on sale.

Get all the details about TpT’s upcoming winter sale and find out how to score a gift card here.

Here are some resources that may fit that seasonal need for you in the coming weeks:

Read on to learn more about this PBL project with a Valentine’s Day theme.

This PBL project is the perfect way to sneak in some math and collaborative learning while your students plan a fictional Valentine’s party. The resource sets creative parameters and your students work together to plan a fictional class party – all the while doing math and practicing their writing, planning, and organizational skills.

Your students will love studying poetry with this bracket challenge!

It’s almost time for that famous basketball playoff event … ahem, apparently it’s a big deal to sports fanatics? I’m clearly not one of those, but I love taking that same enthusiasm and hype and applying it to something more my speed – like digging into creative poetry in fun ways. This Poetry Bracket Challenge for Elementary Students comes with hyperlinks suggested poems to use for this activity, unit study-style activities to extend learning, and printable poetry pages where copyrights allow – as well as the actual bracket you can use to customize this project with your students. Simply choose the activities that you’d like to use and do as much or as little as you’d like.

Introduce your students to the real Patrick Henry with this biographical scavenger hunt.

This Patrick Henry Scavenger Hunt is the perfect way to introduce your students to the man famous for declaring, “Give me liberty, or give me death!” With quotes from his letters and speeches, as well as personal stories and politics, this resource follows Henry throughout his life. It can be used as a scavenger hunt, gallery walk, or simple cooperative learning activity, asking your students to read informational passages to find answers and decode mystery words. Also included are a variety of reflective and creative writing prompts to extend learning.

Spring is the time for weddings, so this is the perfect time to introduce this Romeo and Juliet summative project.

Since spring is the time for wedding planning, I have to share this newish resource there – and because my students loved it! Create a Wedding Album for Romeo and Juliet is a digital resource designed to help your students do just that. (You can ask them to design an album based on the wedding they had in the play, or to imagine what it might have been like if they’d had a more traditional wedding – which allows for all sorts of creativity connected to characterization and traditions!) It makes the perfect summative project, but your students could also work on it as you read the play, and it can be done individually or cooperatively. It’s very open-ended, so you have lots of room to make the assignment what you want it to be – but there’s enough here for your students to be super creative and demonstrate their understanding of the play while giving you some room to breath.

Hexagonal Thinking Activities for Any Novel

I love resources that you can use over and over, don’t you? That mileage is important to me – and that’s one reason I love these Hexagonal Thinking Activities for Any Novel. There’s serious bang for your buck here, but more importantly, kids love’em – and by putting manipulatives to critical thinking and literary analysis, students of all skill levels can be successful. Want to know more about hexagonal thinking? Check out this post.

Find out all about this print-ready Hexagonal Thinking resource for use with MacBeth here.

PS – I just finished MacBeth, and we had such fun with this play! It’s so perfect for hexagonal thinking activities that I had to make one. Grab it here.

There you have it! These are my top resource recommendations for the upcoming weeks. What do you need to help your spring go smoothly?

I love picking out TpT resources that will save time for me or that will expose my students to a concept in a way that I wouldn’t have thought to use. I want you to get these things for your students, too! That’s why I’m offering a $10 TpT gift card to one winner on Tuesday, February 8, just in time for sale shopping. Enter to win using the rafflecopter below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

New! A Patrick Henry Biographical Scavenger Hunt

January 29, 2024 by Amy Leave a Comment

What do you know about Patrick Henry? I bet you know “Give me liberty, or give me death!” even if you don’t know anything else, but he was a fascinating man. Case in point:

He’s known as the “Voice of the Revolution” – he spurred people to action with his eloquence, often in speeches like the one mentioned above.
He was friends with George Washington, at times with Thomas Jefferson, and many other Founding Fathers.
He was a frugal man, retiring to a home with only three rooms, where he lived with ten other family members!
He fought valiantly against the ratification of the Constitution until it spelled out the specific rights of the people, not wanting the ideals fought for in the Revolutionary War to be taken by a strong, centralized government.
He was extremely popular during his lifetime despite never holding a federal position. He did, however, turn down the jobs of supreme court justice, secretary of state, attorney general, and ambassador to Spain and France – when asked by Washington! – so that he could spend time with his family.

Henry’s career was long and varied, and it remains relevant today in many ways. As students are studying civics and American history, learning about how our government was formed and should work, it’s important to know about the man who helped found it and ensured that our rights were listed as law.

What better way to do that than with a scavenger hunt?

Check out this new scavenger hunt about the life of Patrick Henry!

I created this resource as an introduction to the life of Patrick Henry. It contains quotes from him shared within chronological information about his life, work, and character.

Students start with a mission. Then, they read informational passages to answer questions, which lead them to scrambled letters that form a final answer. They can tackle this in many ways: as a scavenger hunt, a gallery walk, or as task cards. This is great for cooperative learning!

I’ve also included several reflective writing prompts for students to share what they’ve learned. These take several forms: from simple essays to poems and even a basic exhibit design.

Where did all of this come from? I’ve been learning about Patrick Henry for years, as he’s a favorite historical figure of one of my own kids – but I also attached a bibliography of excellent resources, should you want to know more.

So have you met Patrick Henry? Scavenge away and find out more about this complex Founding Father!